# **Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of St Bartholomew’s Church, Arborfield**
**for the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **Trustees Annual Report**
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) presents its Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022.
## **Reference and administrative information**
The PCC is registered with the Charity Commission as The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Bartholomew’s, Arborfield, registration number 1146779.
The correspondence address of the Church is The Rectory, Church Lane, Arborfield, Berkshire RG2 9HZ.
The Trustees, members of the PCC who have served from 1 January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
Minister Rev Piers Bickersteth (Chair) Assoc. Minister Rev Andrew Kearns Churchwardens Joseph Brown Adedayo Ajibola Deanery Synod reps Gillian Kaiser Poppy Brown Anthony Pollock Elected members Alison Caldwell Patricia Fryer Ian Hollamby Mark McDonnell Hannah Schuster Felicity Singh Phil Rowlandson (resigned Nov 2022 as moved area) Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Independent Examiner Lisa Darby FCA
Page 1
Structure, governance and management
The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956.
The appointment of PCC members is governed by, and set out in, the Church Representation Rules. The Trustees, members of the PCC, are either elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting or are co-opted onto the PCC and hold office for 3 years.
Objectives and activities
The principal purpose of St Bartholomew’s Church, Arborfield is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The objectives of the PCC are defined by the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956 as “to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.”
The trustees confirm that they have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the operation of public benefit.
Achievements and performance
Our aim as a Church is to honour the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we do. By his grace we are seeking to grow in our knowledge of him, our love for him and our obedience to him. We are also seeking to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to others as well, both by reaching out to others ourselves and by supporting mission partners in the UK and overseas. During 2022 we supported the following: OMF, Christian Community Action (CCA), and Open Doors, along with a post-grad member of the church family working as a ministry trainee with a church in Southampton.
Our Sunday services are the focus for our life as a Church as we gather to listen to the Word of God being read and preached, and as we respond to him in prayer and praise. This is also a vital time for us to grow as a fellowship and refreshments after the service provide the opportunity for relationships to build. It is our assumption, however, that our life as a Church should overflow into our daily lives and our growth groups continue to provide a natural context for relationships to develop whereby people can serve and encourage one another further.
It has been a joy to relinquish CV-19 restrictions on our gatherings and seek to return to “normal” church life and are thankful for the way we have been able to gather safely inperson as well as continue to deliver an online service.
Church at the Green marked its fifth birthday in March 2022 and continues to give thanks to God for all that He continues to do in establishing and keeping the church family, as well as building are relationships with neighbours who continue to move into the new housing locally. Piers Bickersteth continues in his role as rector of the benefice as well as leading the ministry at CTG.
Phil Rowlandson finished his fourth year in his role on the staff team, and began Church of England ordination training in September.
Andy Kearns continues his role as Associate minister, based at Arborfield.
Page 2
During the year the Electoral Roll was revised in accordance with Church of England practice and the number currently on the Roll is 118.
Most of the charity’s activities are undertaken by volunteers and the charity could not operate effectively without their efforts. In planning the activities, the PCC has applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
Our Lord, continues to be very kind to us with Andy Kearns our Associate minister continuing to lead us with support from Piers. We have been blessed with a substantial legacy of £87,197 and several large donations.
During the year the Church income was £218,016 (an increase of £42,619 from 2021) and Church expenditure was £108,840 (a decrease of £18,791 from 2021).
Included within church expenditure we have made mortgage repayments of £20,704 (£13,158 Capital Repayments and £7547 Interests Repayments) to Methodist Chapel Aid Limited towards last year’s loan of £250,000 for the refurbishment of School House.
The total cash balances at 31 December 2022 were £171,031, of which £1,600 is restricted and £169,431 is unrestricted.
We are in the planning stages of creating a new car parking area next to the church hall to improve the safety of church visitors. This is estimated to cost around £40,000.
## _Reserves_
The trustees have agreed the policy in the amount of holding cash reserves of 2 months unrestricted income which would be equivalent to £36k. The cash held in the unrestricted fund has increased to £169,431 (2021: £60,326).
## _Quinquennial Inspection_
The quinquennial inspection was carried out in August 2020. Included in this year’s expenditure was the repair of the roof £2,000. There are several cracks in the masonry around the church which are being actively monitored with crack gauges. It is not yet clear if and when repairs will be required. There is a church working party which will be ensuring the required inspections and repairs are completed.
## _Going concern_
The Charity is reliant on the support of voluntary donations to enable it to continue operating. The trustees believe that support will continue and that the Charity will continue to operate.
## _Responsibilities of trustees_
Charity law requires the PCC to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
The PCC is responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
Page 3
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
With regard to the PCC’s obligations to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, the members of the PCC confirm that they have complied with their duties under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 13 March 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
## **Piers Bickersteth**
## **Patricia Fryer**
Piers Bickersteth Patricia Fryer Chairman Treasurer
Page 4
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF**
## **ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2022 on pages 6 to 9 following.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Lisa Darby**
Lisa Darby FCA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 20 March 2023
Page 5
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Voluntary receipts
2(a)
Church activities
2(b)
Investment income
2(c)
Insurance claim
**_Capital and similar receipts_**
**_Total receipts_**
**Payments**
Church activities
3(a)
Ministry costs
3(b)
Mission and charitable gifts
3(c)
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Net of receipts / (payments) before
transfers
School House refurbishment
Church Hall loan repayments
Loan repayments
Purchase of fixed assets
Loan for refurbishment of School House|General
Funds
£
121,747
8,718
-
-
130,465
-
-
130,465
30,997
47,717
8,000
86,714
-
-
1,085
7,547
95,345
35,120
(13,212)
21,908
60,326
82,234|Restricted
Funds
£
165
60
10
-
235
-
-
235
5
-
332
337
-
-
-
-
337
(103)
174
71
1,528
1,600|Designated
Funds
£
87,197
-
-
-
87,197
-
-
87,197
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
87,197
-
87,197
-
87,197|Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
120
-
120
-
-
120
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,158
13,158
(13,038)
13,038
-
-
-|2022
£
209,109
8,778
130
-
218,016
-
-
218,016
31,002
47,717
8,332
87,051
-
-
1,085
20,704
108,840
109,176
-
109,176
61,855
171,031|2021
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||167,742
3,704
10
3,941|
|||||||175,397|
|||||||250,000|
|||||||250,000|
||||||||
|||||||425,397|
|||||||48,269
65,197
14,165|
|||||||127,631
255,912
8,500
-
3,110|
|||||||395,153|
|||||||30,244
-|
|||||||30,244
31,611
|
|||||||61,855|
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**
|**A Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
Tenancy deposit
Other debtors
**Total current assets**
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Diocesan Board of Finance
Accounts payable
Grant obligations
Fee for Independent Examination
**Total net current assets**
**D**
Church Hall sliding partitions
**Liabilities secured on School House**
**Total assets less secured liabilities**
School House used as clergy accommodation
(2021 valuation by Haslams, Chartered Surveyors)
CBF Investment Fund (Ditchfield Prize Bell Fund)
**Assets and secured liabilities retained for charity's own use**
Loan payments falling due within less than one year
Loan payments falling due after one year|General
funds
£
82,234
**82,234**
-
16,688
-
5,831
**22,520**
**104,754**
-
-
5,500
1,440
**6,940**
**97,814**
-
11,034
11,034
-
-
-
**11,034**|Restricted
funds
£
1,600
**1,600**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**1,600**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**1,600**
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**|Designated
funds
£
87,197
**87,197**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**87,197**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**87,197**
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**|Endowment
funds
£
-
**-**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**-**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**-**
750,000
-
750,000
13,158
223,684
236,842
**513,158**|2022
£
171,031
**171,031**
-
16,688
-
5,831
**22,520**
**193,550**
-
-
5,500
1,440
**6,940**
**186,610**
750,000
11,034
761,034
13,158
223,684
236,842
**524,192**|2021
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||61,855|
|||||||**61,855**|
|||||||375
3,055
2,100
1,361|
|||||||**6,890**|
|||||||**68,745**|
|||||||718
156
-
1,560|
|||||||**2,434**|
|||||||**66,311**|
|||||||750,000
11,034|
|||||||761,034|
|||||||13,158
236,842|
|||||||250,000|
|||||||**511,034**|
School House is held under an endowment trust deed dated 1st December 1871 for the education of the children of Arborfield and Barkham in the principles of the Church of England at the Coombs Primary School. It is occupied as a residence by the church's associate minister for this purpose. The rent saved from renting accommodation for the church's associate minister from a third party will fund the loan repayments. There is therefore no additional liability on the PCC arising from this arrangement.
The above loan which is secured on the School House is repayable in equal half yearly instalments and is repayable in full by 2041.
Consecrated property, beneficed property and moveable church furnishings which require a special faculty for disposal are excluded from the above list of charity assets.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## **Piers Bickersteth**
Piers Bickersteth
Date: 13 March 2023
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**
## **1 Accounting policies**
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the PCC in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the PCC for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|**2**
**a) Voluntary income**
Regular donations under gift aid
Other regular donations
Total regular receipts
One-off donations under gift aid
Other one-off donations
Collections
Total receipts from one-off donations
Gift aid reclaimed
**b)**
**Church activities**
Clergy fees
Other activities and fees
**c)**
**Investment income**
Rental Income
Dividends from CBF investment funds
**3**
**a)**
**Church activities**
Church @ the Green
Church running costs
Office cost and central costs
Insurance
Independent examination
School House utilities
Assigned fees
Other charitable activities
Other costs
**b)**
**Ministry costs**
Associate Minister
Youth worker
Other ministry expenses
**c)**
**Mission and charitable gifts**
Christian Community Action
South Central Gospel
Crosslinks
OMF International
Open Doors
UCCF
Individuals
Bibles given to school leavers|General
funds
£
67,464
11,897
79,361
28,135
3,875
335
32,345
10,041
121,747
5,706
3,012
8,718
-
-
-
General
funds
£
-
12,429
4,942
4,206
1,978
1,603
2,830
-
3,010
30,997
40,258
4,234
3,225
47,717
1,500
1,000
-
2,500
2,500
-
500
-
8,000|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
165
-
165
-
165
-
60
60
-
10
10
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
332
332|Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
87,197
-
87,197
-
87,197
-
-
-
-
-
-
Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
120
-
120
Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
2022
£
67,464
11,897
79,361
28,135
91,237
335
119,707
10,041
209,109
5,706
3,072
8,778
120
10
130
Total
2022
£
-
12,429
4,942
4,206
1,978
1,603
2,830
-
3,015
31,002
40,258
4,234
3,225
47,717
1,500
1,000
-
2,500
2,500
-
500
332
8,332|Total
2021
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||79,076
11,735|
|||||||90,811|
|||||||46,453
800
72|
|||||||47,325|
|||||||29,606|
|||||||167,742|
|||||||3,619
85|
|||||||3,704|
|||||||-
10|
|||||||10|
|||||||Total
2021
£|
|||||||18,706
12,799
7,459
3,544
1,260
1,177
1,457
198
1,669|
|||||||48,269|
|||||||56,387
4,078
4,732|
|||||||65,197|
|||||||1,500
-
4,500
2,500
2,500
2,500
-
665|
|||||||14,165|
Page 8
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**
## **4 Staff and trustees**
The church has no direct employees. Its activities are carried out by volunteers and by staff employed by an independent charity (The Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust). Grants paid to that trust to meet these costs are included in the ministry section of note 3 above.
Included in the staff employed by that independent charity is Rev Andrew Kearns, who is a member of the PCC of Arborfield Church and hence a trustee. The Associate Minister costs shown in note 3 above represent the amounts paid to The Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust for provision of the services of Rev Kearns by that trust.
Rev Andrew Kearns and family received accommodation in the recently renovated School House during the year. The Cost of this accommodation was covered by the PCC with a peppercorn rent of £10 pcm being paid by the minister.
Rev Andrew Kearns received a gift of £2,100 in the year. £600 grant for professional development and £1,500 gift for use in his sabbatical planned to be taken June - August 2023
No other person connected with the PCC has been paid remuneration or other benefits from the funds of the PCC.
## **5 Fund movements**
|**d movements**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**General funds**
**Restricted funds:**
Bell fund
Women's Ministry fund
Ditchfield prize fund
Other nominated gifts
**Endowment funds:**
School House fund
**Designated funds:**
Sustain Ministry Legacy fund
**Total funds**|Opening
balance
£
60,326
1,167
-
203
158
1,528
-
-
-
-
61,855|Receipts
£
130,465
165
60
10
-
235
120
120
87,197
87,197
218,016|Payments
£
(95,345)
(5)
-
-
(332)
(337)
(13,158)
(13,158)
-
-
(108,840)|Transfers
£
(13,212)
-
-
-
174
174
13,038
13,038
-
-
-|Closing
balance
£
82,234|
||||||1,327
60
212
-|
||||||1,600|
||||||-|
||||||-|
||||||87,197
|
||||||87,197|
||||||171,031|
The Bell fund relates to income and expenditure received and paid directly in relation to the Church bells and the bell ringing lessons. The Women's Ministry fund relates to income, donations and costs that are in relation to the Women's ministry that the church runs. The Ditchfield prize fund relates to income to be applied in providing one or more prizes for religious knowledge to one or more children in school every year. The Other nominated gifts fund is specifically for costs relating to buying school leavers bibles.
The School House endowment fund has been created following the surrender of the lease of the School House. The School House is held in accordance with the terms of the original trust deed dated 1 December 1871.
The Sustain Ministry Legacy fund relates to a legacy gift received that will contribute towards the continued ministry running costs of the church. This includes such costs as Minister costs and children & youth ministry costs.
The transfer from the general fund into the Other nominated gifts fund is a contribution towards the purchase of bibles for school leavers.
The transfer from the general fund into the School House endowment fund is a contribution towards the mortgage repayment on the School House.
Page 9